Electrical lock



A. F. MOORE 8,776

ELECTRICAL LOCK Sept. 27, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, '1953Arthur F. Mo are INVENTOR.

Sept. 27, 1955 A. F. MOORE ELECTRICAL LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May18, 1953 Arthur E Moore INVENTOR.

Sept. 27, 1955 A. F. MOORE 2,718,776

ELECTRICAL. Lock Filed May 18, 19 5s 5 Sheets-Sheet '3 Fig.4 62

Arthur F. Moore IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent ELECTRICAL LOCK Arthur F. Moore, South Fork, Pa.Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,636 12 Claims. c1. 70-241 Thisinvention relates to a device adapted to protect a motor vehicle againsttheft and more particularly to an electrically actuated ignition lockfor control of the ignition system of the vehicle.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision ofeffective means for preventing car theft that employs an electricalcombination lock having means for completing an operative electricalcircuit between the battery comprising the source of electrical powerfor the vehicle and the ignition system thereof when a selectedcombination of plungers are actuated. Other means are provided foreifectively preventing the discovery of the selected combination as bytrial and error, thus guarding against attempted use of the vehicle by aperson to whom the selected combination is unknown.

The construction of this invention features means associated with theplungers forming the elements of the electrical combination lock wherebythe hood release lever adapted to release the hood covering the enginecompartment of the vehicle is prevented from operation unless theselected combination of plungers are actuated. Meansa're furtherassociated with the plungers not of the selected combination formaintaining the hood release lever-against operation if they areactuated due to some error.

"Another object of this invention resides in the provision of means forpreventing the lifting of the hood of the automobile which would enablea comparatively skilled mechanic to install a jumper across the ignitionlock thereby permitting the starting of the motor vehicle. Anotherfeature of the invention resides in the provision of th e'door actuatedmechanism for releasing and resetting the plungers to an initialposition when the door is open." Manual means are provided forselectively preventing operation of the door operated mechanism whenthis is desired-by the operator of the vehicle.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in theprovision of an electrical lock adapted to prevent theftof automobilesand like vehicles that is simple in construction and manufacture andcapable of being readily and easily installed on various makes andmodels of currently produced automobiles, trucks, and the like, andwhich is comparatively inexpensive to produce while capable of havingthe combination of selective plungers varied 'inaccordance with thewishes of the owner of the vehicle.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this electrical lock, a preferred embodimentof which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way ofexample only, wherein:

Figure l' is an elevational view showing the electrical lock installedon the dashboard of a conventional automobile;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line22 of Figure '1; t

"-Figure 3 is a'horizontal's'ectional view illustrating the 2,718,776Patented Sept. 27, 1955 construction of the means associated with theplunger for controlling the operation of the hood release lever ingreatest detail;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line4--4 of Figure 3; V

Figure 5 is a schematical illustration indicating the operation of thedoor control mechanism for resetting this electrical lock;

Figure 6 is a schematical wiring diagram of the support electricalcomponents of the invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view illustrating the construction of therocker arm and tie wires connected to the plungers which preventoperation of the hood release lever unless the selected combination ofplungers is actuated; and

Figure 8 is another sectional detail view similar to Figure 7 butshowing the construction of the rocker arms and the tie wires whichinterconnect the hood release mechanism with the other plungers formingelements of this invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 generally designates a casing having a front panel12 and a compartment door 14 capable of being lockin'gly closed by meansof a conventional lock 16. The door 14 provides access to the interiorof the container for the replacement of fuses as will be covered laterin detail.

Extending through the panel 12, are a plurality of plungers 18 havingknobs or keys 20. The plungers may be of a number chosen by themanufacturer of the device as most convenient for production, yetsufficient to afford littlechance of a correct guess of the selectedcombination. The plungers 18 extend through a partition 21. Slidablymounted on the plungers 18 are collars 22. Coil springs 24 abut againstthe collars 22 at one end thereof and are fastened to the plungers as at26 at the other end. The plungers 18 extend into guides 28 afiixed tothe inner wall of the partition 21. The plungers 18 are formed in twopieces and also seated within the guides 28 is the outermost end of theinner plunger sections 30. Each inner plunger section has a spring 32which abuts against a sliding collar 34 mounted on the inner plungersection 30. The collars 34 are adapted to abut against guides 36 mountedon a second inner partition 38. The plungers extend through the innerpartitions 38 and have triangular locking keys 40 mounted thereon. Theinnermost ends of the inner plunger sections 30 have insulatedextensions 42 attached thereto to which electrically conductive contactplates 44 are attached. The contact plates 44 are adapted to completeelectrical circuits between the pairs of contact points 46 and 48respectively mounted on a third partition 50.

Resiliently held, as by springs 52, behind the partition 38, is a threepronged locking bar 54. The prongs, 56, 58, and 60 being adapted toengage the keys 40 mounted on the plunger after the plungers aredepressed thus holding the contact plates 44 in engagement with thecontacts 46 and 48 were the plunger 18 to be depressed. It is to benoted that the cam shaped triangular locking keys 40 will rideunderneath the locking bar 54 when the plungers 18 are depressed andwill engage the locking bar 54, thus preventing the spring '32 from.withdrawing the contact plates 44 from engagement with the contactpoints 46 and 48. The plungers 18 are formed into sections so as topermit the keys 20 to return to an initial position even though thecontact plates 44 are engaging the contacts 46 and 48. The spring 24 isadapted to urge the plungers 18 back to their initial position whenreleased by the operator. A manual plunger 62 having a key 64 isprovided for preventing the locking bar 54 from rising when Y the door66 of the vehicle'is open; It is to be noted that the door 66 of thevehicle is adapted to engage the push button end of a plunger 70 havinga cam surface 72 adapted to engage a cam surface 74 on an extension 76of the locking bar 54. Hence, when the door is open, the locking bar 54will be urged upwardly due to the biasing action of the spring 78. Theplunger 64 is adapted to prevent motion of the locking bar 54 upwardlyand may itself be locked in an inner position by sideways movement intothe intercommunicating slot 80, provided in the front wall of the casingwhich is adapted to be engaged by the detent 82 mounted on the rod 62. Aspring 84 is provided for continuously urging the plunger 62 to aposition where the locking bar 54 is free to move. It is to be notedthat the detent 82 is free to move through the aperture 86 in the frontwall 12 of the casing but cannot move through the small slot 80.

The hood release lever 88 has a cable 90 attached there to connected tothe hood latch used in securing the hood to the engine compartment ofthe vehicle at the front engine compartment of the vehicle. The cable 90is actuated by a hood release handle 91. The hood release lever 88extends through a sleeve 92 mounted in the casing 10. The sleeve isprovided with a plurality of apertures 94 therethrough. The lever 88 isprovided with a series of recesses 96 adapted to align with theapertures 94. Mounted on stands 98 adjacent the sleeve 92 are a seriesof rocker arms 100 which are interconnected by wires 102 extendingthrough guides 103 to certain of the plunger sections 30. Compressionsprings 104 continuously urge the rocker arms 100 to a position wherethe detents 106, carried by the rocker arms 100, extend through theapertures 94 and into the recesses 96. As is shown in Figure 8, otherrocker arms 108 are interconnected by wires 110 to the other of theplunger sections 30 so that the tension springs 112 continuouslywithdrawing the detents 114 from the apertures 94 and the recesses 96,can be overcome upon actuation of the plungers. This will then cause thelocking of the hood release lever to be effected.

This device operates on the principle that the closing of the plungers18 of certain selected plungers of the set of plungers will when all ofthe contact plates 44 complete an operatively electrical circuit throughthe contact points 46 and 48 interconnect the battery 116 with theignition circuit controlled by the conventional ignition switch 118. Afuse 120 is provided in series with the switch 118 and the battery 116whereby upon closure of one of the nonselected contact plates 44' withcontacts 46 and 48', will short circuit the resistance 122 in seriesconnection with the selected contact plates 44 and contacts 46 and 48,thus causing the fuse 120 to blow. The failure of the fuse 120 willprevent the completion of an operatively electrical circuit between theignition system and the battery 116 until the fuse is replaced uponopening of the lock 16 controlling the door 14. It is to be understoodthat a jumper cannot be connected across the battery to the ignitionsystem since the hood will be held closed by the operation of the rockerarms 100 and 108. Unless the rocker arms 100, connected to the selectedplunger elements 30, are actuated, the detents 106 will lock the hoodrelease lever 88 against movement. Further, if the plungers 18 of thenon-selected group of plungers are actuated, the locking detents 114will then engage the hood release lever 88 preventing release of thehood.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of thiselectrical apparatus will be readily apparent, further description isbelieved to be unnecessary. How-: ever, since numerous modificationswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, after a consideration ofthe foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is notintended to limit the invention to the exact construction shown anddescribed, and all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said con tact points engaged by selected plungersbeing connected in series connection with the source of electrical powerand the ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, and members interconnecting the other of saidplungers with said hood release lever preventing operation of said leverwhen said other of said plungers are actuated.

2. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers.

3. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers, and membersinterconnecting the other of said plungers with said hood release leverpreventing operation of said lever when said other of said plungers areactuated.

4. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation ofsaid hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers, said detentsbeing mounted on rocker arms, said rocker arms being spring pressed tocontinuously urge said rocker arms to position said detents in saidrecess.

5. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, a bar for holding said selected plungers in engagementwith said selected pairs of contact points, and door actuated meansinterconnecting said bar with a door of said vehicle to a utomaticallyrelease said selected plungers upon opening of said door.

6. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, a bar for holding said selected plungers in engagementwith said selected pairs of contact points, and door actuated meansinterconnecting said bar with a door of said vehicle to automaticallyrelease said selected plungers upon opening of said door, and manualmeans for selectively preventing said door actuated means from releasingsaid selected plungers.

7. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers, a bar forholding said selected plungers in engagement with said selected pairs ofcontact points, and door actuated means interconnecting said bar with adoor of said vehicle to automatically release said selected plungersupon opening of said door.

8. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever,and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers, a bar forholding said selected plungers in engagement with said selected pairs ofcontact points, and door actuated means interconnecting said bar with adoor of said vehicle to automatically release said selected plungersupon opening of said door.

9. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the-source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a'motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit. and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle. having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, said means including locking detents adapted toseat in recess in said hood, release lever, and tie wiresinterconnecting said detents with said selected plungers, a bar forholding said selected plungers in engagement with said selected pairs ofcontact points, and door actuated means interconnecting said bar with adoor of said vehicle to automatically release said selected plungersupon opening of said door, and means interconnected between said sourceof power and the ignition system of said motor vehicle to effectivelybreak the electrical circuit between said source of power and saidignition system when the other of said plungers are actuated.

10. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, a bar for holding said selected plungers inengagement with said selected pairs of contact points, and door actuatedmeans interconnecting said bar with a door of said vehicle toautomatically release said selected plungers upon opening of said door.

11. An electrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said contact points engaged by selected plungers beingconnected in series connection with the source of electrical power andthe ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood release lever unless said selectedplungers are actuated, a bar for bolding said selected plungers inengagegment with said selected pairs of contact points, and dooractuated means interconnecting said bar with a door of said vehicle toautomatically release said selected plungers upon opening of said door,and manual means for selectively preventing said door actuated meansfrom releasing said selected plungers.

12. Anelectrical lock for use in motor vehicles comprising a pluralityof contact plungers adapted to engage pairs of spaced contact points,selected pairs of said con tact points engaged by selected plungersbeing connected in series connection with the source of electrical powerand the ignition circuit of a motor vehicle to complete an operativeelectrical circuit between said ignition circuit and said source ofelectrical power, said motor vehicle having an engine compartmentprovided with a hood, said hood being adapted to be held in a lockedposition and released only by a hood release lever, and meansinterconnecting said hood release lever with said selected plungerspreventing operation of said hood releasevlever' unless said selectedplungers are actuated, a bar for hold: ing said selected plungers inengagement with said selected pairs of contact points, and door actuatedmeans interconnecting said bar with a door of said vehicle toautomatically release said selected plungers upon opening of said door,and manual means for selectively preventing said 'door'actuated meansfrom releasing said selected plungers, and means interconnected betweensaid source of power and the ignition system of said motor vehicle toeffectively break the electrical circuit between said References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stephenson Mar. 5, 1929Fehling Aug. 20, 1929 Aikman Sept. 16, 1930 Wethling Feb. 23, 1932 Tateet al. Jan. 10, 1950

